New Living Translation NLT
Hebrew Names Version HNV
1 Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands.
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My son, keep my words. Lay up my mitzvot within you.
2 Obey my commands and live! Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes.
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Keep my mitzvot and live; Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye.
3 Tie them on your fingers as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.
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Bind them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Love wisdom like a sister; make insight a beloved member of your family.
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Tell wisdom, "You are my sister." Call understanding your relative,
5 Let them protect you from an affair with an immoral woman, from listening to the flattery of a promiscuous woman.
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That they may keep you from the strange woman, From the foreigner who flatters with her words.
6 While I was at the window of my house, looking through the curtain,
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For at the window of my house, I looked forth through my lattice.
7 I saw some naive young men, and one in particular who lacked common sense.
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I saw among the simple ones. I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding,
8 He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman, strolling down the path by her house.
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Passing through the street near her corner, He went the way to her house,
9 It was at twilight, in the evening, as deep darkness fell.
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In the twilight, in the evening of the day, In the middle of the night and in the darkness.
10 The woman approached him, seductively dressed and sly of heart.
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Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, And with crafty intent.
11 She was the brash, rebellious type, never content to stay at home.
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She is loud and defiant. Her feet don't stay in her house.
12 She is often in the streets and markets, soliciting at every corner.
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Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, And lurking at every corner.
13 She threw her arms around him and kissed him, and with a brazen look she said,
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So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him:
14 “I’ve just made my peace offerings and fulfilled my vows.
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"Sacrifices of peace-offerings are with me. This day I have paid my vows.
15 You’re the one I was looking for! I came out to find you, and here you are!
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Therefore I came out to meet you, To diligently seek your face, And I have found you.
16 My bed is spread with beautiful blankets, with colored sheets of Egyptian linen.
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I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, With striped cloths of the yarn of Mitzrayim.
17 I’ve perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
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I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning. Let’s enjoy each other’s caresses,
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Come, let's take our fill of loving until the morning. Let's solace ourselves with loving.
19 for my husband is not home. He’s away on a long trip.
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For my husband isn't at home. He has gone on a long journey.
20 He has taken a wallet full of money with him and won’t return until later this month. ”
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He has taken a bag of money with him. He will come home at the full moon."
21 So she seduced him with her pretty speech and enticed him with her flattery.
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With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him.
22 He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter. He was like a stag caught in a trap,
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He followed her immediately, As an ox goes to the slaughter, As a fool stepping into a noose.
23 awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life.
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Until an arrow strikes through his liver, As a bird hurries to the snare, And doesn't know that it will cost his life.
24 So listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to my words.
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Now therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth.
25 Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her. Don’t wander down her wayward path.
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Don't let your heart turn to her ways. Don't go astray in her paths,
26 For she has been the ruin of many; many men have been her victims.
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For she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty host.
27 Her house is the road to the grave. Her bedroom is the den of death.
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Her house is the way to She'ol, Going down to the chambers of death.